ABVP rebels burn 'Manusmriti' despite varsity denying nod

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) rebels who left the RSS’ student outfit citing differences over its handling of the JNU row, today burnt a copy of the ancient legal text Manusmriti despite the varsity administration denying permission for the same.

Weeks after the controversial event against Afzal Guru’s hanging was held on campus, five ABVP rebels joined by left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) and Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) burnt the text at Sabarmati Dhaba, which was also the venue of the earlier event.

While three of the organisers were former ABVP office-bearers, two of them are still with the party but differ with their stand on Manusmriti.

The university authorities, maintained that they had denied permission for the event and the security was briefed about the same.

“We had denied the permission for the event but in response the students submitted in writing that they will still go ahead with the event. We have got the programme videographed,” a varsity official said.

Asked about whether the varsity will consider it as an “offence” on part of student’s, the official said, “we will see tomorrow”.

Giving clear indications of rift within ABVP, Jatin Goraih Vice President of outfit’s ABVP unit said, “we had suggested during our party meeting to have a Manusmriti burning event to answer all the left parties’ allegations about ABVP being insensitive to the interest of dalits. But there were disagreements and the party ignored us”.

“But my conscience said I should. This is not a political cause, but a social one on the occasion of women’s day as the book has highly derogatory content about women. Since I decided to go ahead with it, the party is free to take its call whether they will expel me or not. I will not resign,” he added.